The traffic officers in the Western Cape were on top of it this weekend, with operations set across the province to ensure drivers were obeying to the rules of the road.

What are the current road accident statistics in the Western Cape?

In January, the province celebrated a decrease in road accident fatalities. However, unavoidable the fate may be, it had been the first time in years since the Western Cape kept the road death toll under 135.

Traffic authorities confirmed that this weekend, six people lost their lives on the road, four of which were pedestrians, on the Garden Route and Caledon.

Kenny Africa, who is the Western Cape Traffic chief, said that “one driver died in a motor vehicle accident in Caledon, a pedestrian who was knocked over by a vehicle in Sanbaai”.

How many drivers were arrested for DUI this weekend?

This is an unusual figure for the Western Cape and as bad as it is for the victims’ families, it also means that the systems the traffic department has set in place are, in a way, proving effective.

This past weekend alone, at least 25 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Also included in the total was a pedestrian who was arrested for walking in public under the influence. This was more of a preventative measure more than anything.

The Western Cape traffic preventative plan proves to be effective

Kenny added that “we arrested 25 drunk drivers and the highest reading recorded was that of 1,37mg per 1000mg and that was in Caledon in the Overberg. This driver was nearly six times over the legal limit”.

The chief also revealed that fines collected this weekend totalled to R416,000. The traffic department warned drivers to remain vigilant on roads and obey the law at all times as there are more random roadblocks to come